A review: Evil Dead: The Musical

What was that? ?Only the most shocking, revolting and relentlessly entertaining bit of theater to ever "possess" this valley.

Ukiah Player's production of "Evil Dead: the Musical" proves an uproarious spoof. Spawned from the low budget slasher film "Evil Dead," this theatrical production is like nothing you've seen before. It is blood-sport so outrageous that some of the audience end up soaked scarlet from (fake?) blood. Yes, the "splatter zone" is real. It's part of the script, and the people sitting in the splatter zone are laughing just as much as everyone else. From jokes about paper cuts to chainsaw decapitations committed to raucous song and dance, this play has it all, so long as it bleeds. "Join us," chant the demons onstage. And you will.

This is a play frothing over with not just blood, but also with fine direction and performances. Jenny Peterman, the abundantly skilled director, and Tami Tripp, a captain of a stage manager, are the dynamic duo who have spear-headed many successful UPT shows, like "The Wizard of Oz" and "Around the World in Eighty Days." They have outdone themselves with this production. Their talented crew is comprised of young actors, singers, designers, dancers, musicians, and builders. The youth work in collaborative teams led by mentors to create all facets of the production. They build sets, design costumes, choreograph dances, create make-up, masks, props and puppets. The entire crew and cast of this production should feel exquisite pride in what they have accomplished.

Each element of this romp proves stupendous, audacious and brilliant.

SPACE alumni and accomplished dancers, Casey Frey (as the hero, Ash) Gaio Bullshields (as Ash's best bro), and India Frey (as the bimbo) play college kids headed off to the woods to get rascally in an abandoned cabin during spring break. These talented actors bring a marvelous physicality to their roles and can convey just as much through movement as through dialogue. It's hard to take your eyes off of them, especially as each becomes "possessed" by the diabolical incantations from an ancient text, The Book of the Dead, found in the cabin. These actors commit like natural performers to the marvelous, entertaining camp. They mug, deliver lines straight out to the house, and laugh at their own jokes. Believe me, you'll laugh right along.

Amanda Baguley shines as Cheryl, Ash's nerdy, third wheel of a sister.

She is the first to get possessed, and enthralls the audience with powerful vocals, diabolical dialogue, and writhing dance numbers that make her contort into unholy postures. Lilly Mayfield is just darling as Ash's cutie pie. She nails the innocent ingenue role, and once "possessed" shows her acting range as she transforms into one scary, hell-spawned, Candarian Demon. By the time Ash has finished chainsawing her head off while the entire cast, band, audience and even set pieces dance along, help for this spring break blood-letting finally arrives.

Tucker Morninglight stands out as Jake, the backwoods tow truck driver, who brings the rightful owner of the property and her fiance to the cabin. Morninglight hits every sweet note with glorious vocals and delights with his raunchy, bawdy comedy. Shannon Sawyer deftly plays Annie, the cabin owner's daughter, with a confident swagger and strong vocal skills. Oscar Mentelongo plays Ed, the timid fiance, and shows that silent slapstick is powerful. He, too, is a SPACE dancer and brings mesmerizing movement to his capable performance.

The music is fabulous, thanks to the skilled musicians and band's talented director, Mike Gutierrez. The set design is marvelous and animated and many are to be credit. Phil Gary and Ron Selim volunteer as builders, and the ridiculously talented teams led by Kaitlyn Linney and costumer Kimi Levoe, fashioned puppets, costumes, make-up, masks and prosthetics to richly contribute to the spectacle.

Warning: this show is bold and only for adults. Filled with mature language and raunchy humor, Evil Dead the musical skillfully comes off as playful and light hearted and steers away from being offensive.

They may be evil and they may be dead, but they are beautifully horrid, horrifically beautiful. Like every other aspect of this play, they are like nothing you've ever seen before. "Join us!" the dead call out, and with a show this commanding, tickets are bound to sell out. So, stop reading and run to the box office as if your very life depended on it.

"Evil Dead: the Musical," is haunting this town for only two more weeks. Tickets can be purchased at The Mendocino Book Company, at the UPT Box office or online at www.ukiahplayerstheatre.org.

Stacey Sheldon and Micheal Riedell teach English at Ukiah High School.